Deer - The Best Plants to Grow in Your Garden
Deer can be a challenge for gardeners, as they often browse plants, flowers, and shrubs, causing damage and hindering growth. Fortunately, numerous deer-resistant plants can be incorporated into your landscape to deter these unwelcome visitors. While no plant is entirely deer-proof, the following options are less likely to be targeted by deer due to their taste or texture.
- Lavender – Fragrant, drought-tolerant perennial with grey-green foliage and purple or pink flowers that deer tend to avoid.
- Catmint – Easy-to-grow perennial with fragrant, gray-green foliage and showy spikes of lavender-blue flowers that repel deer.
- Yarrow – Drought-tolerant perennial with fern-like foliage and clusters of colorful, flat-topped flowers that deer typically do not like.
- Russian Sage – Tough, drought-tolerant perennial with silvery-gray foliage and tall spikes of lavender-blue flowers that deer tend to avoid.
- Daffodils – Spring-blooming bulbs with trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and white that deer do not typically eat.
- Alliums – Spring-blooming bulbs with round, globe-shaped flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white that deer tend to avoid.
- Barberry – Deciduous or evergreen shrub with thorny stems and colorful foliage in shades of red, purple, or gold that deer tend to avoid.
- Boxwood – Evergreen shrub with small, dense leaves and a variety of growth habits that deer typically do not eat.
- Rosemary – Hardy evergreen herb with fragrant, needle-like foliage and blue or purple flowers that deer tend to avoid.
Incorporating these deer-resistant plants, flowers, and shrubs into your landscape while considering their specific sunlight and soil requirements will help to create a beautiful garden display that is less likely to be damaged by deer, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor space without the frustration of constant browsing.
